Texans' C.J. Stroud Says People 'Will Say We Suck' After Last-Second Loss to Bucs

C.J. Stroud knows the narrative that is going to form after the Houston Texans fell to 0-2 following their dramatic loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Stroud explained that people "will say we suck" even though the players in the locker room still believe in what they are capable of doing this season:

"Everybody's going to talk crazy and say we suck and we're this and that. But at the end of the day we've got to stay together and ... be honest and have hard conversations. But I think right now we need more confidence as an offense, just confidently playing better together. I think that's a big thing."

At least through two games, Houston's revamped offensive line looks a lot like the one that wrecked the 2024 season. The Bucs were getting into the backfield at will against that unit, with offensive coordinator Nick Caley seemingly unable to find any answers for that pressure.

Stroud has been sacked six times. The Texans have scored an NFL-low 28 points through two games, negating a defense that has given up just 34 combined points to the Bucs and Los Angeles Rams.

After a strong touchdown drive to open the game, the Texans' next five possessions all lasted six plays or fewer, not counting a kneel down at the end of the first half.

Their special teams blocked a Bucs punt midway through the fourth quarter while trailing 14-10, giving their offense possession at Tampa's 35-yard line. The unit didn't gain a yard on three plays, settling for a Ka'imi Fairbairn 53-yard field goal.

Nick Chubb's 25-yard touchdown run on the Texans' next possession did put them up 19-14, but they failed a two-point conversion attempt that would have extended the lead to seven.

Tampa marched down the field on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by Rachaad White's touchdown with six seconds remaining to get the win. The drive featured Baker Mayfield scrambling for 15 yards on fourth-and-10 when he evaded Houston's pass-rush.

Nothing is working for the Texans right now. Even their defense failed to get a stop on that final drive, but the most concerning issue is how poorly the offense looks once again after being a disappointment in 2024.

The result is the Texans are tied with the Tennessee Titans for last place in the AFC South.